Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Kendo: A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Swordsmanship
    Kendo: A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Swordsmanship
    Kendo: A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Swordsmanship
    Ebook309 pages2 hours

    Kendo: A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Swordsmanship

    By Geoff Salmon

    5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Master the art of Kendo--Japanese Swordsmanship with this illustrated and comprehensive martial arts guide.

    Kendo or the "Way of the Sword" holds a special place within the martial arts as one of the few practices tracing back directly to Japan's ancient samurai heritage. Modern students flock to kendo for physically--and mentally--challenging activity that combines traditional martial arts values with strenuous physical activity.

    Author Geoff Salmon has over 40 years of kendo experience gained in and outside of Japan. His goal in this kendo guide is to dispel many misconceptions about the sport and to make kendo training accessible and effective for anyone. His simple, straightforward writing style is especially helpful for beginning students and martial artists from other disciplines who wish to add kendo training to their repertoire.

    The core of this kendo book is a series of detailed instructional sequences demonstrating the basic kendo techniques. The author also presents the fundamental principles and philosophy that make kendo as much an exercise of the mind as of the sword. For many adherents, the goal is to train your mind to achieve a state of mushin (no-mind). Beyond that, this book also shows you how to win competitions and integrate kendo into your personal fitness routines.

    This is the first book to clearly link the philosophical and mental elements of kendo to the physical techniques, thereby enabling readers to gain a holistic understanding of the martial art. It offers a comprehensive training program similar to those given by leading kendo teachers in Japan, past and present.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTuttle Publishing
    Release dateMay 28, 2013
    ISBN9781462911806
    Kendo: A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Swordsmanship

    Related to Kendo

    Related ebooks

    Sports & Recreation For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Anko Itosu

      Apr 1, 2023

      Anko Itosu
      9 min read

    • Article

      Efficiency in Motion

      Nov 23, 2022

      Efficiency in Motion
      5 min read

    • Article

      All For One One For All

      May 21, 2019

      All For One One For All
      9 min read

    • Article

      Martial Arts Community Bids Farewell to TERUYUKI OKAZAKI

      Jul 21, 2020

      Teruyuki Okazaki was a bully. That may not be the most flattering way to remember one of the principal leaders of karate in the West, a student of Gichin Funakoshi and a protégé of Masatoshi Nakayama — not to mention one of the art’s most incredible

      3 min read

    • Article

      Bokator Forever

      May 21, 2019

      Bokator Forever
      9 min read

    • Article

      Daito-ryu 101

      Mar 17, 2020

      Daito-ryu 101
      5 min read

    • Article

      Zen And The Art Of Combat

      Sep 19, 2018

      Zen And The Art Of Combat
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Sabaki Revolution

      Nov 24, 2020

      The Sabaki Revolution
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Many Ways Of The Sword

      Jun 18, 2020

      The Many Ways Of The Sword
      1 min read

    • Article

      Do You Understand The Kata?

      Nov 24, 2020

      Do You Understand The Kata?
      4 min read

    • Article

      Miyamoto Musashi

      Jan 12, 2021

      Miyamoto Musashi
      6 min read

    • Article

      Classical Japanese Martial Arts

      Jul 21, 2020

      Classical Japanese Martial Arts
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Chinese Connection

      May 18, 2021

      The Chinese Connection
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Manji Sai

      Sep 13, 2022

      The Manji Sai
      5 min read

    • Article

      Legacy Of Johnny

      Jan 12, 2021

      Legacy Of Johnny
      4 min read

    • Article

      Secrets Of The Samurai

      Jun 18, 2020

      Secrets Of The Samurai
      10 min read

    • Article

      Karate’s Forgotten Pioneer

      Mar 17, 2020

      Karate’s Forgotten Pioneer
      3 min read

    • Article

      Battle Of Sekigahara

      Aug 13, 2020

      Battle Of Sekigahara
      7 min read

    • Article

      Archery: The Martial Art?

      Jan 20, 2022

      Archery: The Martial Art?
      5 min read

    • Article

      Donn F. Draeger’s Research Analyzed In Lectures In Japan

      Sep 17, 2019

      Martial artists from all over Japan recently assembled in Tokyo for a series of lectures on the life and legacy of Donn F. Draeger. The American martial arts researcher and writer is best-known for his book Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts, co-writt

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Sai

      Sep 14, 2020

      The Sai
      7 min read

    • Article

      First Family Of Ninjutsu

      Nov 23, 2022

      First Family Of Ninjutsu
      4 min read

    • Article

      Punch. Kick. Repeat

      Apr 1, 2023

      Here’s an easy-to-overlook fact in the grappling era: There are some 100 million strikers in the world. “Strikers,” of course, is a martial arts category that includes punchers and kickers. Think of them as people who prefer to wage war while standin

      9 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Kendo

    5/5

    6 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Kendo - Geoff Salmon

      Kenri—Calligraphy by Matsumoto Toshio Hanshi 9th Dan. The kanji shown here and on the front cover can be read as Sword Theory, although they also convey a spectrum of deeper meaning to experienced kenshi.

      A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO JAPANESE SWORDSMANSHIP

      GEOFF SALMON

      with illustrations by

      KATSUYA MASAGAKI

      TUTTLE Publishing

      Tokyo Rutland, Vermont | Singapore

      The Tuttle Story: Books to Span the East and West

      Most people are surprised to learn that the world’s largest publisher of books on Asia had its humble beginnings in the tiny American state of Vermont. The company’s founder, Charles E. Tuttle, belonged to a New England family steeped in publishing. And his first love was naturally books—especially old and rare editions.

      Immediately after WW II, serving in Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur, Tuttle was tasked with reviving the Japanese publishing industry. He later founded the Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Company, which thrives today as one of the world’s leading independent publishers.

      Though a westerner, Tuttle was hugely instrumental in bringing a knowledge of Japan and Asia to a world hungry for information about the East. By the time of his death in 1993, Tuttle had published over 6,000 books on Asian culture, history and art—a legacy honored by the Japanese emperor with the Order of the Sacred Treasure, the highest tribute Japan can bestow upon a non-Japanese.

      With a backlist of 1,500 titles, Tuttle Publishing is more active today than at any time in its past— inspired by Charles Tuttle’s core mission to publish fine books to span the East and West and provide a greater understanding of each.

      Please note that the publisher and author(s) of this instructional book are NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may result from practicing the techniques and/or following the instructions given within. Martial arts training can be dangerous—both to you and to others—if not practiced safely. If you’re in doubt as to how to proceed or whether your practice is safe, consult with a trained martial arts teacher before beginning. Since the physical activities described herein may be too strenuous in nature for some readers, it is also essential that a physician be consulted prior to training.

      Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

      www.tuttlepublishing.com

      Copyright © 2013 Geoff Salmon

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data in process

      ISBN: 978-1-4629-1180-6 (ebook)

      Distributed by

      North America, Latin America & Europe

      Tuttle Publishing

      364 Innovation Drive,

      North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436 U.S.A.

      Tel: 1 (802) 773-8930; Fax: 1 (802) 773-6993

      info@tuttlepublishing.com

      www.tuttlepublishing.com

      Japan

      Tuttle Publishing

      Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor, 5-4-12 Osaki

      Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141 0032

      Tel: (81) 3 5437-0171; Fax: (81) 3 5437-0755

      sales@tuttle.co.jp

      www.tuttle.co.jp

      Asia Pacific

      Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd.

      61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12, Singapore 534167

      Tel: (65) 6280-1330; Fax: (65) 6280-6290

      inquiries@periplus.com.sg

      www.periplus.com

      First edition

      16 15 14 13        5 4 3 2 1        1301CG

      Printed in Singapore

      TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

      Contents

      CHAPTER 1

      Introduction

      The Purpose of Kendo

      Kendo for Life

      Equipment and how to choose and wear it

      Reigi

      Posture and Kamae

      Maai

      Footwork

      Breathing and Kiai

      Metsuke

      Yuko-Datotsu

      CHAPTER 2

      Waza

      Mitsu no sen

      Shikake Waza

      Sutemi

      Men-uchi

      Kote-uchi

      Dou uchi

      Gyaku-dou

      Tsuki

      Timing and opportunity for shikake waza

      Tobikomi waza

      Hikibana waza

      Debana waza

      Harai waza

      Osae waza

      Uchiotoshi

      Makiotoshi and Makiage

      Renzoku waza

      Hiki Waza

      Seme‚ tame‚ and the the Four Sicknesses

      Sansappo or Sansatsuho

      CHAPTER 3

      Oji waza

      Men nuki men

      Kote nuki men

      Kote nuki kote

      Men nuki dou

      Men suriage men

      Tsuki suriage men

      Kote suriage men

      Kote suriage kote

      Men kaeshi dou

      Men kaeshi men

      Kote kaeshi kote

      Dou uchiotoshi men

      Tsuki nayashi tsuki

      Footwork for oji waza

      CHAPTER 4

      Kendo Training Methods

      Kihon Geiko

      Motodachi geiko and mawari geiko

      Motodachi

      Kirikaeshi

      Uchikomi geiko

      Kakarigeiko

      Butsukarigeiko

      Yakusoku Geiko

      Waza geiko

      Shikake waza geiko

      Oji waza geiko

      Jigeiko

      Kata geiko

      CHAPTER 5

      Structuring a kendo session

      Other structures

      Warm up and cool down exercises

      Hitori geiko

      Practicing with children

      Other forms of training

      Shiai

      Refereeing Kendo Matches

      Grading Examinations

      Glossary/Index

      CHAPTER 1

      Introduction

      This book is written expressly with the objective of helping you make your kendo training more effective. It is aimed both at people starting to climb the kendo ladder and more advanced students who want to ensure they are making the most of their time in the dojo. Without attempting to delve into kendo’s lineage and history, I have peppered this book with elements of its philosophy—simply because you cannot divorce physical actions from the reasons for doing them. Whether your objective for practicing kendo is to train your mind to achieve a state of mushin (no-mind), or be a winner in competition—or simply to keep fit—it helps to know why things are done a certain way.

      I do not claim to have invented a secret formula for success. All the ideas here are out there and have repeatedly been impressed on me by a number of senior teachers over my forty-plus-year kendo career. There are no short cuts in kendo, but there are ways to ensure that you do not waste time doing things that are useless or counterproductive. When I started kendo in the UK in the early 1970s, we were pretty much cut off from the pool of knowledge that existed in Japan. Despite the efforts of one or two pioneers who knew more than the rest of us, a lot of technique was self-taught. I went on to live and work in Japan where I had access to some of the great second generation sensei. I did however, have to spend my first year unlearning my bad habits and starting again from scratch. Clearly the most effective way to improve is to start by doing things correctly and to conscientiously continue the correct practice of basic techniques throughout your kendo career.

      This or any other guide is in no way a substitute for a good instructor. While we now have access to print and online resources from some of the world’s best kendoka, it is important to train with a teacher who can monitor your progress and make suggestions that are relevant to you. Your choice of instructor will have a major effect on your progress, so do put some thought into your selection. If you live in a major city, then you will probably have a choice of dojo. Go and watch some sessions before committing to join. Not all technically skilled kendoka are good teachers and vice versa. It is also worth talking to other members of the class.

      If there is not a choice of dojo in your area, you need to make the best of what is available. In some cases you may have to work with a junior instructor or even train with your peers, taking turns to lead the practice. My only word of caution is that in these cases everyone should be aware of their own ability level and seek opportunities to attend seminars and club visits and invite senior instructors to visit whenever you can. In this way you get exposure to new ideas and can all improve together. I have seen a few rare cases where an inexperienced club instructor has forbidden students to train with other teachers. This is perhaps forgivable of very highly ranked teachers if students are going through the basics stage, but coming from lesser kendoka this smacks of conceit and cultism.

      As a last resort you can train alone. I have included a section on hitori geiko, however these exercises should ideally to be practiced in addition to the work you do in the dojo. Kendo is a social and sociable art and is best done with others.

      Readers’ note

      International Kendo uses Japanese terminology extensively to describe equipment, techniques, and training methodology. I have therefore used this Japanese labeling throughout the book. In most cases I have done so without the customary italics. In line with Japanese grammar rules on compound words, I have made some consonant changes, so for instance kote becomes gote and futon becomes buton.

      The Purpose of Kendo

      In 1975 the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) developed and published The Concept and Purpose of Kendo which is reproduced below.

      Concept

      Kendo is a way to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana.

      Purpose

      To mold the mind and body.

      To cultivate a vigorous spirit,

      And through correct and rigid training,

      To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo.

      To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor.

      To associate with others with sincerity.

      And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.

      Thus will one be able:

      To love one’s country and society;

      To contribute to the development of culture;

      And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples

      Kendo for Life

      Kendo is unusual in that it allows the generations to train together. Children from five upwards can enjoy kendo practice. At the other end of the scale it is possible to continue to enjoy keiko at an age when most other martial artists have hung up their boots or donated their dogi to the charity shop. Numerous sensei continue not only to be great teachers, but also remain formidable opponents into their 70s and 80s.

      To quote the famous Taisho period 10th dan, Mochida Seiji sensei:

      Until you are 50 years old, you must endeavor to practice the fundamentals of kendo and make it a part of you. It has taken me 50 years to learn the fundamentals of kendo by body. It was not until I became 50 years old that I started my true kendo training. This is because I practiced kendo with all my heart and spirit.

      When one

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1